59 AB camshafts

[rottenron36]

I have 2 cams that came out of a 59AB. Both are 4 bolt timing gears. 1 has 91A on one end, and a 1 or I one the other. The next on has 21A and an E on the other. Not up on cams, was wondering if they are the same. Thanks again, Ron

[rottenron36]

Don't know what I did wrong! Just wondered if any one had an answer.

[tubman]

Just to get this moving, I would say they are different; otherwise why would Ford change the part number? Some parts with the same number were used for several years. The prefixes were usually composed by using the last digit of the model year of the car that the part was used on on as the first digit while the second digit was the last digit of the displacement. Thus, a "91A" was first used in a 1939 221 ci engine, while a "21A" was first used in a 1942 221 ci engine (I believe the "A" indicates the first series of that part or maybe the supplier). That being said, sometimes there are no detectable differences between parts with different numbers

I am not a pre-49 expert by any means, but I would expect the camshafts from a 59A would have a part number starting with "59" (1945 239 ci).

Perhaps the experts will check in now, because I've probably made some misstep here.

[rottenron36]

Thanks for the reply. Ron

[tubman]

While I have seen the specs (lift, duration, etc.) of the various varieties on 8BA camshafts and a lot of aftermarket camshafts listed (Tilden Cam Technologies), I have never seen them for the earlier Ford cams.

I am sure they are available somewhere. Being an "8BA guy", I've never looked for them.

[flatjack9]

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The A in the part # indicates it is for a car or commercial vehicle. 59AB cams had 5T stamped on them.

[rotorwrench]

The 91A type should work with the Helmet type distributor. The 21A was the first year of the crab which is roughly the same as the rabbit ear distributor that came during the war and was used after. The 59AB is in reference to the cylinder heads. The 59 series blocks (big 59 on the back bell), come in two varieties. One is actually a 41A block to replace the pre-war 221 blocks and has some characteristics of the prewar types even though it has a big 59 on there. The other design is the post war 239 CID engine widely used from 1945 thru 1948.

The 91A cam may have been used to work directly with a helmet type distributor instead of using an adapter. It's hard to say with more than 70 years of water under the bridge.

[rottenron36]

Thanks for all the great information, always learning with your help. Thanks Ron

[Ol' Ron]

This place is a learning experience, I feel a test coming.

[frnkeore]

Both cams should have the same timing. starting in '37 and I believe, through '48, the intake timing was, 0/44 and exhaust 48/6.

'32 - '36 the timing was intake, 9/54.5 and exhaust 57.5/6.5.

[V8COOPMAN]

I believe the '42-'48 cams ("21A-") are shorter than the '41 and earlier cams, hence....a different part number makes sense. DD